JP3491117B2 - Control program creation system for programmable controller - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique capable of efficiently creating a control program required for controlling by a programmable controller ("PLC") in accordance with the specifications of equipment to be controlled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When controlling a device to be controlled by a PLC, first, a control program is created in advance, and then the PLC reads the created control program by a loader, and the control object is controlled according to the control program. It is controlling the equipment.

In order to describe such a control program, "ladder language" and "FBD (Functional)" are used.
“Block Diagram language”, “mnemonic language” and the like are adopted. Note that the control software described using such a language is compiled into an object module and loaded into the PLC.

When a PLC controls a device to be controlled such as an actuator or a sensor, basically, the PLC and the device to be controlled are connected using an input / output terminal provided in an input / output unit incorporated in the PLC. It

Therefore, conventionally, when writing a control program, whichever of the above-mentioned languages is used, in order to regulate the operation of the controlled device, a timing chart of signal levels of input / output terminals, etc. It was necessary to write the control program while taking into consideration the above.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a conventional method for writing a control program using a ladder language. Figure 15
Shows a control device having an operation panel provided with a drive button for giving a drive command and a stop button for giving a stop command, a PLC, and a motor that is a device to be controlled.

Then, terminals (contacts) DI3 and terminals DI5
Correspond to the operation button and the stop button, respectively, and the terminal DO10 serves as a DO output to the motor. If the control program describes that the motor operates when the operation button is pressed and the motor stops when the stop button is pressed, the ladder diagram shown in FIG. 15 is obtained.

Such a ladder diagram can be created by paying attention to each terminal during the translation work for converting the control specifications into software. For example, in this example, the operation states of the input / output terminals such as “press the operation button = contact 3 (DI3) turns on” and “rotate the motor = turn coil 10 (DI0) on” A software description will be made taking into account the details.

In some cases, intermediate data (corresponding to "TEMP" in the figure) required in the control calculation process must be described in a mixed manner.

[0010]

The conventional control program description method described above has the following problems.

First, since the translation work for converting the control specifications of the controlled machine into software is performed by paying attention to each terminal, the expression of the described control program makes the operation of the actual device intuitive. Since it is not imaged, it takes time to judge the validity of the control program.

Second, unlike the creator of the operation specification of the device to be controlled and the creator of the control program,
Due to the intervention of the above-mentioned translation work, the intention of the creator of the device operation specification is not correctly transmitted to the creator of the control program, for example, when the creator of the control program mistakenly grasps the operation specification of the device. There were many.

Thirdly, since it is difficult to intuitively understand the operation of the controlled device from the described control program, the creator of the device operation specification is difficult to understand the control program. There was also a grudge that there was.

Fourthly, information about input / output terminals and information about intermediate data in the control calculation process are described in a mixed manner, and if a specification change occurs in the device operation, the control accompanying this change will occur. It is extremely difficult to change the program.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide means for efficiently creating a PLC control program in accordance with the specifications of a device to be controlled.

[0016]

In order to solve the above problems and to achieve the object of the present invention, the invention according to claim 1 has an input section having a function of inputting necessary information and a display function. Has a display unit, a component storage unit for registering various components, and a component selection connection unit for selecting a ladder circuit, and creates a programmable controller control program according to the specifications of the control target device. In the system, the component storage unit stores a control target information and a plurality of components required for the control target in association with each other, and a work area for performing various processes. Two
When the user gives a specification of the control target device via the input unit, the component selection connection unit has a region from the first region of the component storage unit according to the specification.
One ladder circuit component and a contact point of the ladder circuit component, and a user interface component for the control target device is acquired and displayed on the display unit, and the user selects the component group displayed on the display unit. When the operation definition and the physical connection of the terminals are performed, the group of parts for which the operation definition and the connection are performed are stored in the second area of the part storage unit, and the parts stored in this way are stored. A control program creating system for a programmable controller is provided, wherein a control program is created by taking out a group from the second area of the parts storage unit and compiling the group.

According to the invention of claim 2, an input unit having a function of inputting necessary information, a display unit having a display function, and a component storage unit for registering various components.
A system for creating a control program for a programmable controller according to the specifications of a device to be controlled, the system having a component selection connection part for selecting a ladder circuit,
The component storage section stores a first area in which information on a control target and a plurality of components required for the control target are stored in association with each other;
A second area which is a work area for performing various kinds of processing, and the component selection connection section receives a specification of the control target device from the user through the input section, and in accordance with the specification. One ladder circuit component from the first area of the component storage unit and an external interface component for the control target device, which is a contact point of the ladder circuit component, are acquired and displayed on the display unit, and displayed on the display unit. When the user defines the operation of the terminals of the parts or physically connects the created parts group, the parts group to which the operation definition and the wires are connected is stored in the second area of the parts storage unit. A programmable coordinator configured to take out a component group stored in this way from the second area of the component storage unit and compile the component program. Controller control program creation system is provided.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3,
3. The control program creation system according to claim 1, further comprising a label generation unit that gives a label to the component, the label generation unit including the ladder circuit component, the user interface component, and the external interface. For each part, an identifier unique to the type of the part is stored, and the process of determining whether the part is the same type or not by referring to the identifier and the label name given by the user to the part A control program creation system for a programmable controller is provided, in which the label name is associated with a component and stored in the component storage unit in order to assign the label name.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, in the control program creating system according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, there is provided a coupling circuit generation unit for generating an interface circuit for coupling the circuits. The coupling circuit generation unit grasps the connection state of the terminal to be connected with reference to the component storage unit, and is connected to the component when the output contact of the component is in the activated state (ON). A circuit component (coupling circuit) in which all input contacts are activated (on)
A control program creation system for a programmable controller is provided, which is characterized in that it performs a process for generating.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the control program creating system according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, further comprising a list creating unit for creating a list of input and output terminals of each component. A process of providing the list generation unit with information of external interface components from the component storage unit and generating a terminal list in which input contacts (terminals) and output contacts (terminals) are registered based on a rule specified by the user. It is a control program creation system for a programmable controller, characterized in that

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the control program creating system according to the fifth aspect, a terminal allocating unit having a function of allocating a terminal included in the component to the programmable controller is provided, and the terminal allocating unit is the A control program for a programmable controller, characterized by performing a process of allocating each input terminal and each output terminal to the programmable controller input terminal and output terminal according to a predetermined rule with reference to a terminal list. It is a creation system.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, FIG. 1A shows a hardware system configuration diagram. This system includes a CPU 2 for performing various processes, a ROM 3 for storing an operation program of the CPU 2, a work area, and the like. RAM4 that works
And an HDD that stores various information necessary for system operation
(Hard disk driver) 5, I / F (interface) 6 for connecting input devices such as keyboard 8 and mouse 9, and I for connecting CRT 10 which is a display device
/ F (interface), and each component is connected to the system bus so that necessary information can be transmitted and received between them.

The CPU 2 performs various kinds of processing according to the operation program stored in the ROM 3, and in order to explain this, FIG. 1 (b) is a block diagram focusing on the functions of this system. A block diagram is shown.

This system performs an input unit 12 having a function of inputting necessary information, a display unit 13 having a display function, a component storage unit 14 for registering various components, a ladder circuit selection, and the like. A component selection connection unit 15, a coupling circuit generation unit 16 that generates an interface circuit that couples the circuits, a label generation unit 17 that gives a label to the component,
A list generation unit 18 that generates a list of input and output terminals of each component, a terminal allocation unit 19 that has a function of allocating the terminals included in the component to the PLC, and information necessary for component selection, connection, etc. And a display control unit 20 having an interface function. It should be noted that the component storage unit 14 has an area serving as a work area for performing various processes.

The input unit 12, the display unit 13 and the component storage unit 14 are respectively a keyboard 8, a mouse 9 and a CRT.
10, corresponding to HDD5. Further, the other functional blocks can be realized by the CPU 2 performing processing according to the operation program stored in the ROM 3.

First, the first embodiment will be described.
The present embodiment relates to a process performed by the component selection connection unit 15 in accordance with a start command given via the input unit 12, and includes a control circuit for controlling a PLC controlled device by inputting a three-phase power supply to perform operation control. Motor (actuator) equipped
I am trying.

The component selection connection unit 15 has a function of acquiring a necessary component from the component storage unit 14 by giving a control target (control specification). In order to realize such a function, the control target is controlled. The above information and necessary parts may be associated with each other and registered in the parts storage unit 14.

Now, when the component selection connection section 15 is activated,
The display control unit 20 causes the display unit 13 to display a pull-down menu for selecting a device to be controlled. When the user selects a motor type (control target), an internal circuit, which is a ladder circuit showing a motor control procedure, is selected from the component storage unit 14. Further, a user interface component (motor component in FIG. 2) corresponding to the internal circuit and an external interface component are also presented. Such a component is provided in the display control unit 20.
The operation program may be created so that it is displayed on the display unit 13. The user is not informed of the detailed contents of the internal circuit.

Now, in the user interface parts, the external interface parts, and the internal circuit parts, the operation for defining the operation of the terminals and the physical connection are performed. User interface parts.

Generally, it is necessary to define an operation command for each device to be controlled, but in this example, the device to be controlled is a motor, the user interface component has two terminals, and the operation command is There are two types of "rotation" commands and "stop" commands.

The component selection connection unit 15 configures an operation program so as to perform a process of calling and connecting a component provided with a rotation button and a stop button, which corresponds to rotation and stop, by a user operation. You can leave it.

As a result, the connection relationship between the parts including the rotary button and the stop button and the user interface parts is defined. External interface parts.

Generally, it is necessary to define a terminal that is physically connected to an actual controlled device, but in this example, the controlled device is a motor and "run terminal is ON, rotation, "RUN terminal is off, and it is stopped", the output (DO) terminal of the external interface component "R"
UN "is defined.

Internal circuit components. This component is a component selected by the component selection connection unit 15 by a user operation. In this example, when "rotation" command is on, RUN is held and output, when "stop" command is on, R
The logic is to turn off the UN output.

The component group thus constructed is temporarily stored in an empty area of the component storage unit 14, taken out when necessary, and compiled into an object module, which can be operated by PLC. It can generate various control programs.

By thus generating the control program, the signal name of each terminal and the intermediate information (“RUN” in FIG. 2) in the control calculation process are hidden on the component side,
When writing a control program, it is only necessary to consider the generation of operation commands. In addition, the operation command allows an intuitive image of the operation of the device to be controlled (actuator), and the software description becomes easy even without specialized software knowledge.

FIG. 3 shows an example of connection at the component level (different from the actual circuit). When the contact A or the contact B is turned on, the motor rotates and the contact C is turned on. If so, the control operation of stopping the motor can be intuitively imagined.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.
The present embodiment relates to the processing performed by the component selection connection unit 15 in accordance with the activation command given via the input unit 12, and the PLC monitoring target device is a limit switch which is an example of a sensor.

The component selection connection unit 15 has a function of acquiring a necessary component from the component storage unit 14 by giving a monitoring target (control specification). In order to realize such a function, the monitoring target is controlled. The above information and necessary parts may be associated with each other and registered in the parts storage unit 14.

Now, when the component selection connection section 15 is activated,
The display control unit 20 causes the display unit 13 to display a pull-down menu for selecting a device to be monitored. When the user selects a sensor type (control target), specifically, a limit switch, an internal circuit which is a ladder circuit showing a control procedure of the limit switch is selected from the component storage unit 14. Further, a user interface component (a limit switch component in FIG. 4) corresponding to the internal circuit and an external interface component are also presented. Such a component is provided in the display control unit 20.
The operation program may be created so that it is displayed on the display unit 13. The user is not informed of the detailed contents of the internal circuit.

Now, the user interface parts,
In the external interface parts and internal circuit parts, perform the operation definition of terminals and physical connection. User interface parts.

Generally, it is necessary to define an operation command for each device to be monitored, but in this example, the device to be monitored is a limit switch, the user interface component has two terminals, and the operating state is , 1 in the "ON" state
Seed.

It should be noted that the component selecting / connecting unit 15 may be configured with an operation program so as to call a component to be connected to "ON" and perform a process of connecting by a user's operation. External interface parts.

Generally, it is necessary to define a terminal that is physically connected to the actual monitored device, but in this example, the monitored device is a limit switch and "contact" ON "is in the ON state. To generate an ON signal ", the" O "of the input (DI) terminal of the external interface component is
N "is defined.

Internal circuit components. This component is a component selected by the component selection connection unit 15 by a user operation. In this example, the logic is "generate" ON "" when the "ON" signal is turned on.

The parts group thus constructed can be temporarily stored in an empty area of the parts storage unit 14, taken out when necessary, compiled and made into an object module, which can be operated by PLC. It can generate various control programs.

By thus generating the control program, it is possible to intuitively imagine the operation of the monitored device (limit switch) from the status information, and the software can be used without any special knowledge of software. Wear description becomes easy.

FIG. 5 shows an example of connection at the component level (different from the actual circuit). When the contact "ON" of the limit switch component is turned on, the control operation is such that the LED is turned on. Can be intuitively imagined.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.
The present embodiment relates to a process performed by the component selection connection unit 15 in accordance with a start command given via the input unit 12, and includes a control circuit for controlling a PLC controlled device by inputting a three-phase power supply to perform operation control. Motor (actuator) equipped
And the “ER output from the control circuit.
R "signal is being monitored. That is, the present embodiment relates to the description of the control program for controlling the device by combining the actuator device and the sensor device, and only the monitoring operation of the "ERR" signal is added in the first embodiment. The "ERR" signal is output when an abnormality occurs in the motor.

The component selection connection unit 15 acquires a required component from the component storage unit 14 by giving a control target (control specification) (specifically, a motor capable of outputting an "ERR" signal). In order to have a function and to realize such a function, the information of the control target and the necessary parts may be associated and registered in the parts storage unit 14.

Now, when the component selection connection section 15 is activated,
The display control unit 20 causes the display unit 13 to display a pull-down menu for selecting a device to be controlled. When the user selects a motor type (control target), an internal circuit, which is a ladder circuit showing a motor control procedure, is selected from the component storage unit 14. Further, a user interface component (motor component in FIG. 2) corresponding to the internal circuit and an external interface component are also presented. Such a component is provided in the display control unit 2
It is sufficient to create an operation program so that 0 will be displayed on the display unit 13. The user is not informed of the detailed contents of the internal circuit.

Now, in the user interface component, the external interface component, and the internal circuit component, the operation for defining the operation of the terminal and the physical connection are performed. User interface parts.

Generally, it is necessary to define an operation command for each device to be controlled, but in this example, the device to be controlled is a motor, the user interface component has three terminals, and the operation command is There are two types of "rotation" command and "stop" command, and the operating state is one type of "fault" state.

It should be noted that the component selecting / connecting unit 15 calls and connects a component provided with a rotation button and a stop button, which corresponds to rotation and stop, and a component provided with an input terminal corresponding to a failure, by a user's operation. The operation program may be configured to perform the processing.

As a result, the connection relation between the user interface component and the component having the rotary button and the stop button is defined, and the connection relation between the component having the terminal for inputting the failure signal and the user interface component is also defined. .

External interface component. Generally, it is necessary to define a terminal that is physically connected to an actual controlled device, but in this example, the controlled device is a motor, and "run terminal is ON, rotation, RU
The output of the external interface component (DO) is used to stop the N terminal off and turn on the ERR output when an error occurs.
Terminal is “RUN”, input of external interface parts (D
I) Define the terminal as "ERR".

Internal circuit components. This component is a component selected by the component selection connection unit 15 by a user operation. In this example, when "rotation" command is on, RUN is held and output, when "stop" command is on, R
When "UN output is off" and "ERR" input is on, R
The logic is to generate an operation state "failure" when the UN is forcibly turned off and the "ERR" input is turned on.

The parts group thus constructed can be temporarily stored in an empty area of the parts storage unit 14, taken out when necessary, and compiled to form an object module, which can be operated by the PLC. It can generate various control programs.

By generating the control program in this way, it is only necessary to consider the generation of the operation command and the operation state when describing the control software. In addition, the operation command and the operation state can be used to intuitively imagine the operation of the control target device (actuator), and the software description can be facilitated even if there is no specialized knowledge of the software.

FIG. 7 shows an example of connection at the component level (different from the actual circuit). When the push button component is turned on, the motor rotates and the limit switch component is turned on. For example, it is possible to intuitively imagine the control operation in which the motor is stopped and the LED indicated by the LED component is turned on when the failure signal is turned on.

Further, by registering the internal circuit parts for performing the peculiar control for each target machine, the control software can be described without paying attention to the peculiar control. For example,
In the internal circuit components shown in FIG. 6, the peculiar control in which the ERR signal is in the ON state and the RUN signal is forcibly turned off can be registered in advance in the internal circuit components to reduce the number of man-hours for developing the control program.

As the component selection connection section 15 has the function as described in the first to third embodiments, the CP
It is only necessary to create a U operation program. Next, the fourth
Will be described.

In the present embodiment, different label names are given to the same component in relation to the processing performed by the label generating unit 17 according to the start command given via the input unit 12.

In order to realize such a function of the label generation unit 17, an identifier unique to the type of the component is stored, and it is determined whether or not the component is the same type by referring to the identifier. The operation program of the CPU 2 may be created so as to perform the processing described above and the processing of storing the label name associated with the component in order to give the label name given by the user unique to the component. In addition, to hold various information,
An empty area of the component storage unit 14 may be used.

When the label generator 17 is activated, a label name is given to the user interface component, internal circuit component, and external interface component. Now,
The process of assigning labels in the order of user interface parts, external interface parts, and internal circuit parts will be described. When using multiple devices with the same specifications, define the following.

User interface components. The user gives a label name to the component via the input unit 12. The label generation unit 17 stores the component and the label name in association with each other.

External interface component. The label name defined in is added to the external interface component corresponding to the user interface component. The label generation unit 17 stores the component and the label name in association with each other.

Internal circuit components. The label name defined in is added to each signal name of the internal circuit component corresponding to the user interface component.
The label generation unit 17 stores the component and the label name in association with each other.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a processing result in which label names are given to two components in order to reuse the motor component prototype and the internal circuit component prototype. It is necessary to identify a component having the same specification by copying a circuit, that is, calling the same component more than once from the component storage unit 14.

In this example, the label name "pump" is assigned to each of the rotation, stop, and failure terminals of the two motor parts.
It is shown that "lift" is added and identified. In addition, the signal names “rotation”, “stop”, “RUN”, “ERR”, and “fault” of the two internal circuit parts are also labeled and labeled “pump” and “lift”. ing.

FIG. 9 shows motor parts having the same specifications,
The label names "pump" and "lift" are given for identification. In each motor component, when the operation SW (switch) that is a push button component is turned on, the motor rotates, and when the stop SW (switch) that is a push button component is turned on, the motor stops.

By giving a label name in this way, if a prototype part is created, the part can be reused. That is, it is not necessary to define an internal circuit for each used component.

The CPU operation program may be created so that the label generating unit 17 has the function as described in the fourth embodiment. Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, the interface circuit existing between the circuits is generated in accordance with the processing performed by the coupling circuit generation unit 16 in accordance with the activation command given through the input unit 12.

In order to realize the function of the coupling circuit generating unit 16 as described above, a process of grasping a certain terminal and a terminal connected to the certain terminal and generating a circuit that operates according to the rule shown below is performed. An operation program for the CPU may be created as is done. Here, the above rule is "when an output terminal of a certain circuit component is turned on, all the terminals connected to the output terminal are turned on".

Now, referring to FIG. 10, the coupling circuit generator 1
The operation of No. 6 will be described. Originally, it is assumed that the push button component (circuit 1) and the motor component (circuit 3) are connected. Specifically, the terminal 101 is connected to the terminals 102 and 103, and the terminal 111 is connected to the terminals 112 and 113.

In this state, the coupling circuit generator 16 generates a circuit that operates according to the above rules. That is, when the terminal 101 is turned on, a circuit for turning on the terminals 102 and 103 is generated. As can be seen from the circuit 2, when the terminal 121 connected to the terminal 101 is turned on, the terminal 1 connected to the terminal 102 is connected.
Since the circuit 23 and the terminal 124 connected to the terminal 103 are turned on, the circuit 2 is a push button component (circuit 1).
And the motor component (circuit 3) as an interface circuit. Similarly, when the terminal 122 connected to the terminal 111 is turned on, the terminal 1 connected to the terminal 112 is
Since 25 and the terminal 126 connected to the terminal 113 are turned on, the circuit 2 on the “lift” side also operates as an interface circuit between the push button component (circuit 1) and the motor component (circuit 3).

In order to perform such processing, the coupling circuit generation unit 16 grasps the connection state of the terminals to be connected by referring to the component storage unit 14 and generates a circuit that operates according to the above rules. As described above, a CPU operation program may be created.

The operation of the coupling circuit generation section 16 can reduce the number of interface circuit design steps. Next, a sixth embodiment will be described.

The present embodiment relates to the processing performed by the list generating unit 18 and the terminal allocating unit 19 according to the activation command given via the input unit 12, and specifically, lists the input / output terminals of the parts. The present invention relates to a process and a process of assigning input / output terminals to a PC according to a list.

The outline of the processing performed by the list generating section 18 and the terminal allocating section 19 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11, but before that, the configuration of the PLC itself will be briefly described.

The external input / output terminal of the PLC usually corresponds to the internal terminal-dedicated internal memory of the PLC. That is, taking DI / DO (digital input / output) as an example, a DI / DO memory area exists in the internal terminal-dedicated internal memory space of the PLC, and the application program stored in the PLC is stored in this area. The external input / output terminals are controlled by reading / writing the stored information.

FIG. 12 shows an image of the DI / DO area. 121 is a DI / DO memory area of the PLC
A DI memory area is shown. From "DI1" to "DI
Each of n bit addresses up to "n" corresponds to a 1-bit memory. On the other hand, 122 is an external terminal (only on the input side) of the actual PLC, and terminal names are given to the terminals from “DI1” to “DIn”,
Signal level status of each terminal ("ON" or "OF"
F ") is illustrated. For example, the terminal name "DIn"
When the terminal state of “1” is “ON”, the digital signal “1” is stored in the corresponding area of the DI / DO memory area, that is, the bit address “DIn”. Note that, in FIG. 12, only the DI side is described for easy understanding, but the DO side has the same configuration.

Now, referring to FIG. 11, the list generator 1
8 and the terminal allocation unit 19 will be outlined. It is to be noted that the processing target is the combination of the parts shown in FIG. 9, and finally the processing of connecting the terminals existing in FIG. 9 to the external input / output terminals provided in the PLC will be described.

First, the list generator 18 acquires the external interface components of each component shown in FIG. 9 from the component storage 14 (# 1). As a result, in order to obtain the external interface components 200, 210, 220, 230, these are temporarily stored in the empty area in the component storage unit 14. A label name is added to each terminal included in each external interface component.

Next, the user selects a rearrangement rule. The rearrangement rule is a rule that determines the order of arranging the terminals, and various kinds are conceivable. Therefore, a plurality of rules are determined in advance and stored in an empty area in the component storage unit 14, for example. The selection may be made via the input unit 12 (# 2). Note that the rearrangement rule is as follows: the order of appearance of parts (the order determined by the order of appearance of parts, for example, the order in which the parts selection connecting unit 15 calls the parts), the order of terminal names (for example, the order of AIUEO), and the order of part types. (The order defined by the type of parts, for example, the motor part is number 1, the switch is number 2, etc.) and the like.

The list generator 18 rearranges the terminal names according to the selected rule (# 3). The list generation unit 18 refers to the temporarily stored terminal name of each component and acquires the terminal name. Specifically, the DI side is “operation SWON, stop SWON, pump ERR, lift ERR”, and the DO side is “pump RU”.
N, lift RUN ”.

# 4 is in accordance with the part appearance order rule.
The terminal name list made into the list is shown. At this time, the list generation unit 18 activates the display control unit 20,
The list is displayed on the display unit 13, and the list is stored in the empty area of the component storage unit 14.

In this way, the processing performed by the list generation unit 18 makes it possible to list the terminal names of the part interface parts of the parts that are freely combined in the format of FIG. The operation program of the CPU may be created so that the list generation unit 18 performs such processing.

Next, the process of allocating the terminals of the external interface component to the DI / DO memory area, which is performed by the terminal allocating unit 19, will be described. "# 5", "# 6"
Shows the first mode of the allocation process.

That is, the terminal allocating unit 19 refers to the terminal name list and allocates the terminals to the PLC bit addresses on the DI side and the DO side in order of the list (# 5: automatic allocation). Note that “# 6” indicates the result of such automatic allocation. DI side terminals "Run SWON", "Stop SWON", "Pump ER"
“R” and “lift ERR” are assigned to bit addresses “DI1”, “DI2”, “DI3”, and “DI4” of the PLC, respectively, and the DO side terminal “pump RUN”,
The “lift RUN” is the bit address “D” of the PLC.
It can be seen that they are assigned to “O1” and “DO2”.

The terminal allocating unit 19 performs such automatic allocation processing so that each terminal of the external interface component with respect to each component having an arbitrary coupling mode is D
It becomes possible to automatically allocate to the I / DO memory area.

The terminal allocating unit 19 may activate the display control unit 20 and create an operation program for displaying the allocation result on the display unit 13. "#
7 "and"# 8 "show the second mode of the allocation process.

In this mode, the terminal allocating unit 19 activates the display control unit 20 to display a display screen in which the allocation can be defined, and the user defines the terminal allocation on the display screen. Automatically allocates each terminal provided in the external interface component to the DI / DO memory area based on the terminal allocation defined by the user on the display screen (# 7: manual allocation).

“# 8” indicates the result of such allocation. DI side terminal "Operation SWO
"N", "Stop SWON", "Pump ERR", and "Lift ERR" are respectively the bit address "DI2" of the PLC.
3 ”,“ DI31 ”,“ DI5 ”, and“ DI15 ”, and the DO-side terminals“ pump RUN ”and“ lift RUN ”are respectively assigned to the PLC bit address“ DO2 ”.
It can be seen that they are assigned to “1” and “DO15”.

The terminal allocating section 19 performs such a manual allocating process so that the terminals of the external interface parts for the respective parts having an arbitrary coupling mode are automatically transferred to the DI / DO memory area according to the user's preference. Can be assigned to.

The terminal allocating unit 19 may activate the display control unit 20 and create an operation program for displaying the allocation result on the display unit 13. It should be noted that the selection of either the automatic allocation or the manual allocation is performed when the terminal allocation unit 19 is activated.
The operation program may be configured to be performed by the user performing an operation using the input unit 12 according to the selection menu displayed by 0.

A CPU operation program may be created so that the terminal allocating unit 19 performs the allocation processing described above. Next, an operation example of changing internal circuit components will be described.

The component selection connection section 15 has a function of changing one internal circuit component to another internal circuit component by a user's operation. In order to realize such a function, the component selection wiring part 15 is selected. An operation program for the connection section 15 is created.

Now, as shown in FIG. 9, the motor (pump,
The internal circuit parts of the (lift) are shown in FIG. 8. According to this ladder diagram, the control operation is such that “when the“ operation SW ”is in the“ on ”state, the“ rotation ”state is held”. Done.

Assuming that the control specifications are changed to "put the motor in the" rotation "state only while the" operation SW "is in the" on "state", as shown in FIG. Insertion circuits must be designed and connected between components.

Although detailed description of the operation of this insertion circuit is avoided, the present insertion circuit includes a delay circuit for delaying an input signal by a predetermined time, an AND gate,
And an OR gate, and its operation timing chart is
As shown in the figure, the motor operates to be in the "rotation" state only while the "operation SW" is in the "on" state.

In order to avoid such insertion circuit design and connection, the user interface parts and the external interface parts are left as they are, and only the internal circuit parts are changed to those which meet the changed control specifications. Of course, for that purpose, the component selection connection section 15 may be operated to select the internal circuit component that meets the new control specifications.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining such a change of the internal circuit parts, and shows a state in which the hold function by the "RUN" contact is deleted only by changing the part A to the part B. . In this way, the connection between the parts is as shown in FIG.
As shown in, it is possible to easily describe software that can support the new control specifications.

In this way, by activating the component selecting / connecting section 15, it is possible to immediately respond to a change in control specifications.

As described above, conventionally, when a PLC control program is created, the ladder language and FB are used.
D, mnemonic language, etc. are used to capture the flow of each control signal in device operation control, the translation work to software is performed, and the control program is described. However, according to the present invention, the operation specifications of the target device are specified. According to the above, the internal circuit parts can be selected, the number of steps for creating the control program can be reduced, and the control program description can be easily grasped because it is not necessary to grasp the internal structure of the complicated internal circuit component.

[0108]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the first storage area for storing the information of the controlled object and the plurality of parts required for the controlled object in the component storage section in association with each other. A second area which is a work area for performing various processes, and when the user selects a component selection connection unit via the input unit, the component storage unit receives the specification of the device to be controlled according to the specification. One ladder circuit component from the first area and the user interface component for the control target device, which is the contact point of the ladder circuit component, is displayed on the display unit, and the component group displayed on the display unit is acquired. When the user defines the operation of the terminals of the parts and physically connects the parts, the group of parts to which the operation definitions and the connections are made is stored in the second area of the parts storage unit. Parts storage unit Due to so as to create a control program by compiling removed from the second region has the effect that it is possible to create a control program efficiently.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first storage area for storing the information of the control target and the plurality of components required for the control target in the component storage unit in association with each other, and various processes are performed. And a second area serving as a work area for the component selection connection section, when the user gives the specification of the controlled device through the input section to the component selection connection section, the first area from the first section of the component storage section is set in accordance with the specification. One ladder circuit component and the contact point of this ladder circuit component, and the external interface component for the controlled device is acquired and displayed on the display unit, and the user can confirm the terminal of the component for the component group displayed on the display unit. When the operation definition and the physical connection are performed, the component group in which the operation definition and the connection are performed is stored in the second area of the component storage unit, and the component group thus stored is stored in the component storage. From the second area of the department Since the control program is created by issuing and compiling the program, the control program can be created efficiently.

According to the invention described in claim 3, the same identifier is given to the same type of parts,
The parts can be reused efficiently. Further, according to the invention of claim 4, when the output contact of a certain component is in the activated state (ON), all the input contacts connected to the component are in the activated state (ON). ), The man-hours for designing the interface circuit can be reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, by generating a terminal list in which the input contacts (terminals) and the output contacts (terminals) are registered, it is possible to immediately grasp the types of terminals to be assigned to the PC. It will be possible.

According to the invention described in claim 6, by referring to the terminal list and assigning each input terminal and each output terminal to the programmable controller input terminal and the output terminal according to a predetermined rule,
Makes it easy to assign terminals to the PC.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a DI / DO memory area of PLC.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of control specification change.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of changes in internal circuit components due to changes in control specifications.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 HDD 6 I / F 7 I / F 8 keyboard 9 mice 10 CRT 12 Input section 13 Display 14 Parts storage 15 Parts selection connection 16 Combined circuit generator 17 Label generation unit 18 List generator 19 Terminal allocation section 20 Display control unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kouki Fukuzumi 1 Fuji-cho, Hino-shi, Tokyo Within Fujifacom Control Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihide Hamada 1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Nakano Tomoyuki, No. 1 Tanabe Shinden, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Fukushima No. 1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiaki Shimada 1-1 Tanabe Nitta, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-1-93803 (JP, A) JP-A 6-51808 (JP, A) JP-A-5-189012 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G05B 19/05 G06F 9/06 530

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An input unit having a function of inputting necessary information,
The programmable controller has a display unit having a display function, a component storage unit for registering various components, and a component selection connection unit for selecting a ladder circuit. A system for creating a control program, wherein the component storage unit stores a first area for storing information of a control target and a plurality of components required for the control target in association with each other, and a work for performing various processes. A second area which is an area, and the component selection connection section, when a specification of the controlled device is given from the user through the input section, the first area of the component storage section according to the specification From the one ladder circuit component and the contact point of this ladder circuit component, the user interface component for the controlled device is acquired and displayed on the display unit,
When the user defines the operation of the terminals of the component or physically connects the component group displayed on the display unit, the component group for which the operation definition or connection is performed is stored in the second area of the component storage unit. A programmable controller is configured to be stored, and a control program is created by taking out the component group thus stored from the second area of the component storage unit and compiling the control program. Control program creation system. 2. An input unit having a function of inputting necessary information,
A programmable controller having a display unit having a display function, a component storage unit for registering various components, and a component selection connection unit for selecting a ladder circuit are provided. A system for creating a control program, wherein the component storage unit stores a first area for storing information of a control target and a plurality of components required for the control target in association with each other, and a work for performing various processes. A second area which is an area, and the component selection connection section, when a specification of the controlled device is given from the user through the input section, the first area of the component storage section according to the specification From one ladder circuit component and a contact point of this ladder circuit component, and an external interface component for the control target device is acquired and displayed on the display unit, and a unit displayed on the display unit. When the user defines the operation of the terminals of the parts and physically connects the parts to the product group, the part group for which the operation definition and the connection have been made is stored in the second area of the component storage unit. A control program creation system for a programmable controller, wherein a control program is created by taking out the parts group stored in this way from the second area of the parts storage unit and compiling the control program. 3. The control program creating system according to claim 1, further comprising: a label generating unit for giving a label to the component, wherein the label generating unit includes the ladder circuit component, the user interface component, and,
For the external interface component, a component-specific identifier is stored, and the process of determining whether the component is the same component by referring to the identifier and the label name given by the user are stored. A control program creation system for a programmable controller, characterized in that the label name is associated with a component and stored in the component storage unit so as to be uniquely assigned to the component. 4. The control program generation system according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling circuit generation unit that generates an interface circuit that couples the circuits, and the coupling circuit generation unit is a connection target. When the output contact of a certain component is in the activated state (on), all the input contacts connected to the component are considered to be in the activated state (on) when the connection state of the terminal that becomes A control program creation system for a programmable controller, which is configured to perform a process of generating the following circuit component (coupling circuit). 5. The control program creating system according to claim 1, further comprising a list creating unit for creating a list of input and output terminals of each component, the list creating unit comprising: Information on external interface parts is acquired from the parts storage unit, and input contacts (terminals) and output contacts (terminals) are based on rules specified by the user.
A program for creating a control program for a programmable controller, characterized in that it performs a process of generating a terminal list in which the above is registered. 6. The control program creating system according to claim 5, wherein a terminal allocating unit having a function of allocating the terminals of the parts to the programmable controller is provided, and the terminal allocating unit refers to the terminal list,
A programmable controller control program creation system characterized by performing a process of assigning each input terminal and each output terminal to a programmable controller input terminal and an output terminal according to a predetermined rule.